DETROIT – A 3-year-old boy has accidentally shot himself in the face with his mother’s gun on Detroit’s east side.
The incident occurred on Friday (Sept. 6) at 4:20 p.m. in the 11000 block St. Patrick Street.
The boy has been conveyed to a Metro Detroit hospital, but the investigation revealed that the mother had arrived home from work and placed her gun on a dresser.
Officials say minutes later, the 3-year-old boy got possession of the gun and shot himself in the face.
The 3-year-old is in critical condition, but Detroit Police Chief James White said the boy suffered a graze wound.
“If you’re going to have a gun, have responsibility and lock it up,” said White. “You got to put your guns away. You can’t leave them out. You can’t leave them where kids are going to get them, and kids get hurt, and that’s exactly what happened here today.”
There will be charges, but White says the charges are unknown at this time and are pending an investigation.
Eight other people were in the home, including five children and three adults.
“I mean, kids are curious,” White said. “They’re toddlers or kids, they’re going to be curious. This was a matter of minutes. We’re here way too many times talking about this. If you’re going to have a gun, which so many people do for various reasons. You also have what’s called responsibility.”